Civic accountability group BudgIT has raised concerns over plans by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present the 2026 national budget without a comprehensive review of spending for the 2025 fiscal year. The group warned that proceeding in this manner could weaken transparency and accountability in public finance management.
In a statement issued on the matter, BudgIT noted that a proper assessment of budget implementation for the outgoing fiscal year is a critical step in ensuring effective planning and responsible allocation of resources. According to the organisation, presenting a new budget without clearly accounting for how funds were utilised in the previous year risks repeating inefficiencies and undermines fiscal discipline.
BudgIT explained that budget reviews help lawmakers, citizens, and oversight institutions understand whether government ministries, departments, and agencies met their spending targets and achieved intended outcomes. Without such evaluations, the group argued, it becomes difficult to measure performance or correct policy failures.
The organisation also expressed concern that bypassing a detailed 2025 fiscal review could limit the National Assembly’s ability to scrutinise proposals in the 2026 budget. It stressed that lawmakers rely on implementation reports to assess whether new allocations are justified or whether certain programmes require restructuring or defunding.
According to BudgIT, consistent gaps in budget tracking can fuel waste, weaken public trust, and reduce the overall impact of government spending on development priorities such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social welfare.
The group urged the federal government to release comprehensive and timely reports on the 2025 budget, including details of revenue performance, debt servicing, capital project execution, and recurrent expenditure. It also called for stronger collaboration between the executive arm, the legislature, and civil society to improve fiscal transparency.
While acknowledging the government’s responsibility to maintain continuity in governance, BudgIT maintained that accountability should not be sacrificed for speed. The organisation concluded by urging the administration to ensure that future budgets are grounded in clear data, proper evaluation, and open public engagement.